Search teams find body of Homewood teenager who disappeared while hunting in Coosa County

COOSA COUNTY, Alabama – A 16-year-old Homewood boy
who went missing on Thanksgiving while hunting in Coosa County was found dead Friday
afternoon.

The teenager was last heard from at 6 a.m. on
Thanksgiving, and law enforcement officials began searching for him later that
day.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety's Highway
Patrol and Aviation Unit, Alabama Marine Police, Alabama Department of
Conservation agents, Coosa County Sheriff's Office, Tallapoosa Rescue Squad and
volunteers conducted searches on the ground and by helicopter throughout the
day Thursday.

Divers began searching Lake Martin early Friday, according to several reports. The
teen's gun and canoe were found around midday, and the search continued until
his body was found around 2:30 p.m., a DPS spokesman said.

Alabama Marine Police are investigating this incident and
will release additional information as it becomes available.

According to WSFA
in Montgomery, students from Trinity Presbyterian School held a prayer
vigil for their former classmate. Those in attendance identified the teenager
as Gray Godwin, and told WSFA that he and his family had recently moved from
Montgomery to the Birmingham area.

Another prayer service was held Friday afternoon
at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood.

Friends, classmates and others have flooded
social media, many using the hashtag #prayforgray,
to show support and express condolences to the family:

Gray is in paradise with Our Heavenly Father. You will be missed bud, we love you. #prayforthegodwins